The Three Choices For Radon Home Testing
Posted on: 12 December 2022
Whether you are buying a new home or wish to test your existing home, there are three different types of radon testing you can choose from:
- Short-term carbon test
- Long-term alpha-track detection
- Professional radon testing
Take a detailed look at each of these three options to help you choose the one right for your unique situation:
1. Short-Term Carbon Radon Testing
Short-term carbon radon testing is a simple process any homeowner can do with a very inexpensive charcoal absorption test available at any hardware store.
Place the radon test at your home's lowest point and let it sit for the number of days listed on the package. Inside the test kit will be either charcoal liquid scintillation or activated charcoal. As the radon kit sits, it absorbs any radon it comes into contact with. Once the testing period is complete, then you seal up the test and mail it to a laboratory for evaluation and processing.
2. Long-Term Alpha-Track Radon Testing
Long-term alpha-track radon testing is prevalent in areas with high levels of radon. The detector itself is simply a small filter container with a sheet of specialized plastic inside. As the plastic sheet comes into contact with radon molecules in the air, they leave streaks on it. The radon streaks can later be evaluated using a laboratory counting device or microscope.
If you've had short-term radon testing and it showed a borderline contamination level or recently had radon remediation done in your home, you should place an alpha-track detection device at the lowest point of the house and let it sit for a minimum of three months before processing. Doing so will give you the most accurate view of whether or not your home still has a radon problem.
3. Professional Radon Testing
Professionals who conduct radon home inspections have the option of utilizing three different types of continuous radar monitoring equipment:
- Solid-State detectors
- Ionization chamber detectors
- Scintillation
Solid-state and ionization chamber radon detectors are designed to be used continuously over a short time. These detectors are placed at the lowest point of your home and left to sit while testing the ambient radon levels.
The advantage of professional-level solid-state and ionization chamber detectors is that these types of detection devices provide data about variations in the radon detected over time. DYI short-term tests only tell you how much radon is present when you send the test kit to the supplier for processing.
Finally, scintillation testing performed by professional home radon inspectors is very similar to DIY home testing kits. A test container of liquid charcoal is placed in the testing area for a specified period. Once the test is complete, the radon inspector sends the test into their lab for evaluation and processing.
For more info about radon home testing, contact a local company.
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